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Author Background Two Caravans Two Marina Lewycka Marina

Keele University, , Kings College KingsLondon Keele College of York, University University, lives in Sheffield, England lives Sheffield, in

— — , England Yorkshire, 1946, Germany — A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian Tractors of A History Short — Raised Education Currently Birth

• • • • was nominated for the Booker and Orange prizes. the nominatedBooker and was Orange for daughter. one adult withhusband, and has her SheSheffield, inYorkshire, lives website) author’s & Wikipedia Guides, Groups Reading from (adapted where she grew up.where grew she Philosophy English BA inand and 1968 in with University She from Keele graduated but began, Literature 1969. She in with English in a BPhil from the of York University atCollegePhD did London. nota King's complete, her Hallam until University Sheffield at studies She lecturer media in a was 2012 retirement in March Her first novel, languages, and thirtythan more translated into been has million worldwide, copies Marina Lewycka was born to Ukrainian parents in a refugee camp in , Germany Kiel, in a camp refugee parents in born was to Ukrainian Marina Lewycka her birth to England, after emigrated Sheand II. her family shortlyafter World War

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in one of its failing failing of its one in

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and maybe death death maybe and

--- 9780143113553 320 pp. hearted supervisor, has come from Poland Poland from come has supervisor, hearted Penguin - 13: - Two Caravans Caravans Two Marina Lewycka, 2008Lewycka, Marina Book Summary ISBN Two Caravans Two (also published as Strawberry Fields) Marina Lewycka Marina

tongued but warm but tongued -

day aging hippie and Bob Dylan fan following his own dreams of freedom. freedom. of own dreams his following Dylan fan Bob and hippie day aging is both a road story and a love story. As each one of the original strawberry strawberry original the of one As each story. a love and story road a is both

- old Irina has arrived from Kiev, buoyed up by enthusiasm for the Or- the for enthusiasm by buoyed up Ukraine Kiev, from arrived has old Irina - year - through an England that turns out to be very different from the country of their dreams. their of country from the different very be to out turns that an England through Fields Strawberry friendship, gain they West, in the life about their illusions of some of go let to forced pickers is them- extricate can finally they Before nature. own of their understanding a better love, and has the group the ways, separate their go and masters the gang of clutches the from selves love. and joy, tragedy, hope, with tinged a lifetime, journey of bittersweet Guides) Group Reading (from his sister, who is working somewhere in England as a nurse. The mysterious Vitaly, of un- Vitaly, mysterious The nurse. as a England in somewhere working is who sister, his the bunch. out dog round a runaway and origins, European Eastern known seri- underlying an is there fast, moves action the and humorous, often is tone the Although ex-worst the and expendable, are people where ofglobalization, tale modern this ousness in the on prey who worse, and labor cheap in traffickers immigrants, other often are ploiters arrivals. new vulnerable this of differences cultural and the language from comedy creates Lewycka Marina Author are they when encounter they horrors the describing from flinching never while group, ragtag them takes which adventure an on embark field and strawberry their idyllic leave to forced various parts of the world are picking strawberries for Mr. Leapish, the farmer. Housed in two two in Housed farmer. the Leapish, Mr. for strawberries are picking the world of parts various them. foreasy isn’t life sausages, and jam, margarine, of bread, diet a daily fed and trailers, the West, in life a new for hopes and of love their dreams and forge, they the friendships But along. carry them Nineteen from Andriy, West. the in life refined and romantic a dreams of of full and Revolution, ange life a harsher has fled Ukraine, in Eastern Donetsk sharp the Yola, mines. coal also from Tomasz, son. disabled her support to money earn to Marta, niece, with her gentle a latter Poland, is seeking Africa, from Catholic young a devout Emanuel, and girls Chinese two are With them On a sunny hillside in Kent, in the Garden of England, a group of nine migrant workers from from workers migrant of nine a group England, of in the Garden in Kent, hillside On a sunny

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an overbearing father, a repressed

--- has distinctive a very voice. Allof the

using teenage son. theWas author’s description the family of Two Caravans Two Strawberry Fields - is about a journey. what In ways do the real journeys the

Discussion Questions Discussion Questions Marina Lewycka Marina world politics? -

first he seems to be one of the Leapish crew, but seems then he to

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hearted, but Lewycka brings up some very serious social and political issues. for example, an for example, exposé of immigrant life?

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Strawberry Fields up. But as the story progresses, they to grow appreciate and love even each other. - from their native lands their native from to Leapish’s farm, variousto parts of Europe, and sometimes

fiction - --- stand in for their emotional or psychological journeys? Each of the characters in Andriy and Irina bothare Ukrainian, butthey are clearly from differentsides of the

1. characters’ stories are intertwined, but they each separately. develop How does the fact that each character’s story and unfolds voice independentlythe affect narrativeof the a as novel whole? Does it make it easier or harder to understand how the characters relate to each other? 2. tracks. At the beginning of the novel, Irina looks down on Andriy, and Andriy thinks Irina of as stuck ---

Do you think the subject matter of the book works best Would as a itnovel? have been more What did you think of the characters’ reactions to Western culture? their Were impressions Which character did you to relate best and why? Was there any character you disliked? Did the

Vulk obsessed is with “making possibility” with Irina. He is a frightening and character, revolting but One of the stranger episodes in the novel occurs when Emanuel, Irina, Andriy, and Dog upshow on Discuss Emanuel’s and Marta’s religious convictions. Do their religious beliefs make them harder or Vitaly a is strange character In the novel’s epigraph, Lewycka quotes Chaucer: “For myn entente nat is but for to pleye.” The tone manyLike novels, All of theAll of workers on Leapish’s farm are migrant seasonal labourers, but none of them seem to know

easier easier to understand? Why do you think the author include to twochose devout Catholics suchfrom different backgrounds? 10. aspowerful non 11. accurate? 12. story have a hero? clear A villain? Reading(from Group Guides) characters takecharacters back home 7. he seems to have a genuine crush on Irina. of this, Because he a is sympathetic figure? What some are theof characteristics that would elevate from him the positionmerelyof “bad guy”? 8. Toby Mackenzie’s doorstep. Toby’s family seems stereotypical but kind mother, and a drug rebellious, funny, upsetting, or a combination of both? What theabout immigrants’ reactions to the family? In what ways was the scene realistic? 9. exactly what they have gotten into. themselves Was initialthis setup believable? Did the following makeevents the story more or plausible? less 4. turn against them, becoming a “mobilfonman.” He coerces many of his less savvy friends into bad jobs conditions.in worse And findyet, we as out something about Vitaly’s life,we learn thathe hasbeen just as much a victim of the system those as is takinghe advantage Didof. you sympathizewith Vitaly? Do you thinkhe could have helped behaviour? his How would you have acted in his situation? 5. theof book indeed lightis her politicalDoes stance come across strongly? How did some of thesituations she presents in the changenovel your mind about real 6. How did you react to their romantic blooming relationship? Do you think their adventures together them toallow put theiraside differences, or did they create an artificial closeness? 3.

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- legend legend

-

toting gangster who instantly instantly who gangster toting - like immigrant hostels on the coast; the the coast; the on hostels like immigrant -

rich Britain. There is Yola, the Polish supervisor supervisor Polish the Yola, There is Britain. rich Reviews - haired, gun haired, -

Two Caravans Two Marina Lewycka Marina

sky promises from manifestly suspicious characters, is unconvincing. The subject subject The is unconvincing. characters, suspicious manifestly from promises sky - 'English men are supposed to be incredibly romantic. There is a famous folk a famous There is romantic. incredibly to be supposed men are 'English just window bedroom his lady's through climbs in and death braves who man of a from coach aon hours 42 after Irina muses So of chocolates.' a box her to bring the in worker agricultural seasonal as a a summer begin to Dover in arriving Kiev, even possibly and of adventure the promise by excited and her dreams of country her from Brown as Mr dashing and as handsome Englishman with an romance English. Talk Let's textbook, greasy a Vulk, by boat off the Met the - in - The Guardian The and the tone feel mismatched at times. mismatched feel the tone and to attempted it not had so be more would but novel, charming and funny is a Caravans Two wittily trip road a rollicking is phenomenal, firsthalf The agenda. a solemn such incorporate and soulful whose acquire, they dog stray the even turn, in workers the of each by narrated as engaging less becomes book But the communicated. whimsically are affections devoted sinister. more progressively becomes the backdrop and light remain the voices or,half as second of the focus central the romance becomes developing Andriy's and Irina too soon hormones love of stinks she hormones love of stinks 'He offers: Dog insightfully a as it enjoy and references the darker ignore simply must One mate.' will they such weighty avoid to better be might Lewycka future, in but novel, comic straightforward so. doing in on them commentary and original a serious offer to it is issues, unless This is a more difficult novel than its predecessor, however. As it progresses, Lewycka Lewycka progresses, As it however. its predecessor, than novel more difficult This is a capitalism Western and migration of economic darkest facets the to into delve attempts slum the farming; poultry of intensive brutality And therein trafficking. human all, of sinister most and, workers; of illegal exploitation vicious problem. lies the simply case, it this in but tragedy, for conduits effective most the of one be can Black humour Similarly, levity. much with too described are issues important if desperately feels as of the some horror; indeed, describing voice innocent in an found be can pathos tremendous uncomprehending and the naive through seen those are stories powerful most darkest and with dealing when particularly naivety, their and children are not these But children. of eyes pie who is having an affair with the farmer; her religious niece, Marta; Tomasz, who is infatuated infatuated is who Tomasz, Marta; niece, religious her the farmer; with an affair having who is an Emmanuel, bed; his under knickers of her pair a purloined of stashing guilty and with Yola known girls Chinese two of sister; his search in come who has Malawian naive improbably beautiful the for falls who a Ukrainian Andriy, finally Two; and One and Girls Chinese only as has Irina seems it natives. But the about own fantasies his despite sight, at first Irina to an attempt in returned Vulk has and soon, Andriy just moreof than attention the attracted ventures. business salubrious, if less profitable, more his of in one her charms exploit Lewycka's Marina in Ukrainian, of Tractors History A Short novel, first her bestselling As in English, of levels assorted With their the beginning. from apparent is writing comic talent for in translator Foer's Ukrainian Safran Jonathan of echoes have pickers the strawberry fitto images stretched often mangled, is creatively language as Is Illuminated, Everything life. to come have otherwise not that could confiscates her passport and working papers, Irina is deposited in a sunlit corner of Kent of corner a sunlit in deposited is Irina papers, working and her passport confiscates chasing all pickers, strawberry migrant of collection a motley house caravans two where in opportunity life a better of similar dreams

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Two Two up told with a told up -

The Autograph The Autograph

, was a critical and popular popular and critical , was a

pickers: one caravan for men, for caravan one pickers: - old Ukrainian emigre and and emigre Ukrainian old

- person narrator and there is even a even is there and person narrator

- year and now Marina Lewycka's Lewycka's Marina now and

- (continued) listing for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Two Fiction. for Prize Orange for the listing -

Broken English Broken digging Valentina, who will go to any lengths to stay in stay to lengths togo any will who Valentina, digging - Reviews Reviews Two Caravans Two Marina Lewycka Marina

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian Tractors of History Short A is a funny, affecting tale of 84 of tale affecting funny, is a

bag dinners and green satin underwear. It's a delightful set adelightful It's underwear. green satin and dinners bag

educated Malawian, and two Ukrainians, Andriy and Irina. The latter pair pair latter The Irina. and Andriy Ukrainians, two and Malawian, educated - . - selling title in the British book market last year, thanks in part to its selection selection to its in part thanks year, last market book British the title in selling - the ending shifts in point of view create a whiplash effect as you try to track who's to track try as you effect a whiplash create of point view shifts in ending - - , D.B.C. Pierre's Ludmila's Ludmila's Pierre's , D.B.C. draws on many of the same themes as its predecessor. It follows a motley cast of cast motley a It follows its predecessor. as themes same the of many on draws in

- SECOND NOVELS CAN BE so disappointing: consider Zadie Smith's Zadie consider disappointing: BE so CAN NOVELS SECOND Man Caravans debut, Lewycka's third the as emerging and prizes, and shortlistings of a number garnering success, highest Club. Book & Judy Richard for the History A Short

In a field in the idyllic English countryside, two caravans perch not far from endless rows of rows endless from not far perch two caravans countryside, English the idyllic a field in In fruit summer the of homes are the caravans The strawberries. larger the have men the menthan but women more are There women. the for the other share.) can women Asian two the anyway, and, are smaller women the (Well, caravan. The Age The into and water the of out thing get the can you If boats. flying like rather are novels SECOND of History A Short spry the for celebrated justly Lewycka, Marina way. your on you're the air, waterlogged. or she is airborne out if find to is about Ukranian, in Tractors consumers the new when what happens of view crazy was a sweetly of Tractors A Short History agile Lewycka's England. settled of consumers the practised meet bloc Soviet former the from and reasons, itsdastardly and heart human the about observations wry of a fund wit employed a short and awards several attracted novel her of a showpiece is writing Lewycka's again and drive as its drama cultural the takes also Caravans observation. sly and drollness Emanuel, a convent Emanuel, love story. blossoming of the and our of quest the focus become democratic Lewycka's by amplified is the problem and characters many too has This novel some were There backgrounds. in their fill and perspectives their of each from to write attempt by person first the in told ostensibly was which book, first the in manoeuvres narrative clumsy and the father just involving scenes often witnessed we but Nadia, daughter, youngest Nikolai's later. "reported" being were they assume to had and Valentina never Here, the first intermittent role of has the Irina still And spotlit now. DOG". Frequently AM of "I largely consisting airtime, are given thoughts dog whose peripatetic result. comic any without yet points, vantage different from is recounted scene the same grim secrets about their Ukrainian heritage in the process. in heritage Ukrainian their about grim secrets differences. class and cultural generational, off feeds that romp comic is a What ensues Western, everything admires homes, nursing in but illegally hard works who Valentina, boil including matter. subject dark potentially the lightens that dry humour Two Caravans jobs in exploitative menial, various then survive and obtain try to they as workers immigrant the for and, work restaurant farming, factory chicken picking, strawberry including Britain, prostitution. few, unlucky Russians, of shady couple a girls, two Chinese Poles, three includes group The itinerant widower Nikolai Mayevskyj, who announces to his daughters that he is going to marry a 30 a marry to he is going that his daughters to announces who Mayevskyj, Nikolai widower the gold divorcee, Ukrainian something some learning honour, their family's to threat off this fend to unite daughters Nikolai's Britain.

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class -

good -

breaking summer summer breaking - old in antique Malawian Malawian old in antique -

year -

this is instructive about a world most world a about is instructive this

- (continued) read; she must be mixing with not mixing be must read; she -

Reviews Reviews Two Caravans Two Marina Lewycka Marina

something not to be underestimated underestimated not be to something

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educated and speaking the immaculate English of the 1930s, has come against against has come 1930s, of the English immaculate the speaking and educated - The pickers, from all across the world but mainly from former Soviet bloc countries, countries, bloc Soviet former from mainly world but the all across from The pickers, back the doto as labourers legal Britain to brought have been non almost are wages do. The to pleased longer no are residents British that work venal. and lustful employers the unspeakable, accommodation the existent, their have all They of pickers. gang the disturbs really above of the none Strangely, so is summer the English besides, working; and their homes leaving for reasons things: in small be taken can Pleasure landscape. a tranquil in sing the birds lovely, of beer, bottles few a roasted, and caught rabbit wild the fire, a around meals the maybe this time Lewycka has bitten off more than she can chew. can she than more off has bitten Lewycka time this maybe Australian The mercy of the vicious and worldly. This is not helped by a mystical dog whose thoughts run run thoughts whose dog a mystical by helped is not This worldly. and vicious of the mercy 18 a saintly by written home by letters or the narrative, through and twee between line as the comedic than rather clunky Both are nuns. from learned English crossed. is constantly droll as it is Irritating lies just what of you apprise is to wittily intention Lewycka's about. think to not people prefer You'll again. chicken eat never will You you buy. everything of surfaces beautiful the beneath "product", be called remotely that can anything revisit might you In fact, strawberries. rethink it. behind activity the human of some know you that now particular, in Lewycka of voice deadpan appealingly the novel, this to virtues many There are say: I'd Waterlogged, novel? Second Caravans? Two cohesive. than rather forced it all feels but beautiful Englishman with a bowler hat and furled umbrella, just like Mr Brown in her English her English in Mr Brown just like umbrella, furled and hat a bowler with Englishman beautiful in decency of democracy, and justice honour, of country is the after all This, book. conversation nothing that even odder And be lust. to seems force the driving that then it is odd How action. and novels grand the of England the not This is money. of exchange the except matters re and she's read that history books inspiring people, perhaps? unity a there is although isthat Caravans Two with irritation the the exasperation, The trouble, very the although and romps aof series in along It runs of execution. no unity is there of intent, is too there focus, a central as to serve supposed are Andriy and Irina young couple appealing It's all development. character too little and movement much too them, on around much going the fools at rustic like countryside the wandering characters with the a pantomime, rather When Irina, a young student from Ukraine, arrives, the men certainly sit up. And the other the other And sit up. certainly men the arrives, Ukraine, from student young a Irina, When men, the of one eye on her Yolahas Polish supervisor. Yola the especially women notice, an of This dumpling Leapish. with farmer sex have her to for it's convenient although want might Yola and fields, the strawberry owns also it, he for her only pays not Englishman who and a son cottage country a pretty has she in Poland, home Back year. next again the job efficiently work doto her wants Yola it and for pay months summer These care. special needs however, summer, strawberry seventh her is This better life. a live she can Poland, in so that, ofLeapish's hands the coarse fate, in Then enough. had she has think to she's beginning and her. for not is England particular that this Yola decides and swipe, mighty a wife, has well 19, Irina, meet a to perhaps, and, skills language her improve to parents respectable of her the wishes music and laughter. The men and the women eye one another with the usual intent. Eve Eve intent. the usual with another one eye women the and men The laughter. music and over again. all Pickers Pea The Langley's

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